Antirattler and shaft-coupling



No. 609,375. Patented Aug. l6, I898.

E. TARBOX, m.

ANTIBATTLEB AND SHAFT COUPLING.

(Applies-Q92; flled Kay 15, 1897.}

cums Pncns co. mom-Limo. WASHINGTON. n c

p UrrnD EDWARD TARBOX,'JR., OF HANCOCK, NEW YORK.

ANTIRATTLER AND SHAFT-CCU PLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,375, dated August 16, 1898. Application filed May 15, 1897. Serial No- 636,8I1- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDWARD TARBOX, J r., of Hancock, in the county of Delaware and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antirattlers and Shaft-Oouplers 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap' pertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to a combined thillcoupling and antirattler for vehicles of the various kinds in use, the objectbeing to provide a coupling by means of which the thill can be quickly and easily attached to and detached from a vehicle and which is provided within itself with means for effectually preventing rattling of the coupling when in use.

The construction by which the above-named result is obtained will be understood from the following description and claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of an axle and axle-clip with the improvement applied thereto; Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same with one arm of the clip removed to show more clearly the parts of the coupling.

1 indicates the thill-iron, and 2 a portion of the thill bolted thereto in the usual manner. The rear end of the iron 1 is upturned, preferably against the rear end of the thill, forming a socket at 3, in which said rear end of the thill rests, and in rear thereof said iron is provided with a slot at 4, opening downward and adapted to engage the axle-clip bolt or pin. The rear end of the iron in rear of said slot 4 is provided with an upturned hook 5 for a purpose which will appear, and the iron is provided at or near its forward end or in advance of the slot 4 with a pendent hook 6, which may be formed integrally with one of the bolts connecting the iron with the thill or it may be formed separate therefrom and on the thill-iron itself, as preferred. To the hook 5 is suspended an an gle-iron 7 by means of an eye or perforation in its upper end engaging the said hook, the said angle-iron extending downward and thence forward in substantially parallel relation to the rear end of the thill-iron 1, as shown. The arm 8 of said iron is slotted at 9 near its rear end to receive a bolt 10, the head 11 of which enters the open end of the slot 4 and forms a follower, resting in contact with the clip bolt or pin engaging the thill-iron. Adjacent to said head and also adjacent to the arm 8 are arranged washers 12 12, between which a spiral spring 13 is interposed, the tension of which is exerted to hold the follower in contact with the clip bolt or pin. The follower and also the tension of the spring can be adjusted by means of a nut 14 on the outer end of the bolt on the outside of the arm 8. The arm 8 is provided at its forward or lower end with parallel forwardly-extending perforated lugs or cars 15, with which eyes 16 on the rear end of the'loop-link 17 engage, the looped end of said link passing over and engaging the hook 6, as shown. This link is made, preferably, from a single piece of wire in the loop form indicated; but it may be made in the form of a slotted loop adapted to engage the hook 6, which is curved or inclined rearwardly on its lower end to adapt it to readily receive and engage the loop, said hook being notched at 18 to engage and securely hold the link 17 By pressing forward or upward upon the arm 8 the loop can be readily disengaged from the hook 6, and the angle-arm can be swung rearward for removing the follower from the open slot 4 for adapting the thill-iron'to be readily engaged with or removed from the clip bolt or pin, after which the link can be rengaged with the hook 6 and the parts will be held securely together. By adjustment of the nut upon the followerbolt the tension or pressure of the follower upon the clip bolt or pin can be regulated at will and rattling of the coupling effectually prevented.

By the construction described the thill-iron and the parts connected therewith can be readily attached to thills in common use and serve effectually to attain the purposes indicated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a thill-iron having an open slot for engaging the axle-clip bolt or pin, of a spring-actuated follower operating in the open end of said ICO slot, an angle-iron support for said follower and a spring surrounding the shank thereof and upheld by said angle-iron for the purpose and substantially as described.

2. The combination with an axle-clip, of a thill-iron having an open slot for engaging the clip bolt or pin, hooks on said thill-iron, one in front and another in rear of the slot therein, an angle-iron plate connected with the rearhook, an adjustable follower carried by said angle-iron and operating in the thilliron slot, a link connecting said angle-iron with the forward thill-hook, a spring surrounding the shank of said follower, and means for adj nsting the follower and the tension of said spring,snbstantial1y as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWVARD TARBOX, JR.

Witnesses:

WESLEY GOULD, LEWIS G. CARPENTER. 

